When people refer to nature, they always use the feminine to describe or portray it. We hear about "Mother Nature." Personification of the sciences in sixteenth and seventeenth century texts and frontispieces were mostly women, unreal and deified. However, the field was truly open only to men as a profession. Women remained invisible, except in positions as midwives, until the late nineteenth century. The purpose of these middle school curriculum modules is to bring to light the contributions of a few of the female pioneers of science: Maria Sibylla Merian and Hildegard von Bingen.

Hildegard von Bingen (Word doc, 80kb)
Three short class activities highlight views of the universe and how they have changed over time: (1) diagraming student preconceptions; (2) comparing ancient views and reasons for holding them; (3) the idea of the microcosm and oppportunity for personal expression (link to art).